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Poster:
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William Tell |
Date:
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October 27, 2011 04:36:27pm |
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Forum:
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GratefulDead
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Subject:
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Re: Lefty and Bob D... |
Just replying to you both...I think with both CREAM and the DEAD the change had a lot to do with small venues to lg venues, new band to superstars, etc.
EG, early Europe shows in spring of 67 have EC joking, interacting with the crowd, repeatedly responding to individuals--yes, specific questions, requests, etc.--in the crowd, etc., etc. So too, as you note, with the DEAD. It's just that it happened a lot faster with CREAM (the transition, and in a way, they started with the "problem" at one level, already being so famous, etc.).
But, like elb, I was hugely disappointed with the cardboard cutouts (the DEAD of the 74-82 period) I saw live...the rare interaction with the crowd, or even a nod from Jer to a bandmate was gold--because it was so rare. And, as LiA, aka "Mr CREAM", noted, it didn't much matter to most folks there what the players looked like if the sound blew you away, and as I've said so often, no one that saw CREAM in 67 ever left without saying that's exactly what happened.
I know a dozen or so (older brothers, their friends--they were all 17-19 in 1965) that were at every big show in SF/LA from 65 onward, incl Mont Pop, etc., etc., and they all agreed on CREAM as # 1, with Jimi H as individually unique, but never #1 in any of their rankings...not that any of this matters squat, but it had a huge impact on me as a budding teenager to hear the stories.
One side note: NONE of them liked the Doors. Many in fact hated them--thought it was all "playing to the crowd/putting on a show/shock rock" or whatever you want to call it, without substance. Personally, I liked them much more, but kept it to myself as the naive punk soaking up the wisdom...and not that I mean to imply that your notion of "crowd interaction should count for something" is wrong-headed, just saying it depends on a lot of factors.
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Poster:
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rdenirojb87 |
Date:
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October 27, 2011 05:07:53pm |
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Forum:
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GratefulDead
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Subject:
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Re: Lefty and Bob D... |
"EG, early Europe shows in spring of 67 have EC joking, interacting with the crowd, repeatedly responding to individuals--yes, specific questions, requests, etc."
interesting. i didn't know this.
i also find it interesting that all your old music comrades chose cream over hendrix. obviously i wasn't there so i can't say, but i've seen and heard a lot of live material from both and i think they were pretty on par. i give cream the slight musical edge. however, jimi could work a fuckin' crowd. jimi had a stage presence and an aura to him that nobody in cream possessed. that counts for some points in my book, when i consider a live show. i prefer cream as well, but from a live standpoint i think they are so equal.
your friends were missing out with the doors. jim was a lyrical genius and krieger and manzarek are such outstanding musicians.
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Poster:
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William Tell |
Date:
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October 27, 2011 05:33:29pm |
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Forum:
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GratefulDead
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Subject:
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Re: Lefty and Bob D... |
Yeah, agree on the DOORs; think it was partly an "anti LA" thing from Bay Area (we are snobs of the first order), and it was a little too pop, in a unique way...also, no "real" bass player didn't cut it...recall how the DEAD didn't think they had any substance either? It's funny how much of our first impressions, notions of "cool", "with the scene", etc., etc., bias our take on bands at the time, and then later with reflection we say "hmmm, shudda taken another look" ya know?
Like me and the DEAD in 95, right?
Nah....
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